Vehicle top



Oct, 2. 1923.

C. GILLIG ET AL VEHICLE TOP Filed Nov. 29, 1919 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mVENTQRS hesi'er' 61 Ht Leo A TTORNEY By Gi "1%. A3

-WITNESS Q N Oct. 2 1923. 1,469,331

c. GILLIG ET AL VEHICLE TOP Filed Nov. 2a, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE Y Y UNIT L TA E"S Patented Oct. 2, 1923.

- 1. 69. 3 PATENT oF icav i CHESTER Grime AND "LEO .GILLIQI or. SANrnancisoo, oarirromvra.

VEHICLE TOP.

Application filed November 28,1919. Serial Ho. 341,149.

'To (all whamdt may concern."

Be it knownf that we,Cr-rns'rnn GILLIG-and 1 Lno 'GILLIG, both citizensof the United States; and residents of the city and county of-SanFrancisco, State-0f California, have made a new and useful invention-tow t,

Improvements in Vehicle Topsy a'ndwe do hereby declarethe followingto'be a full, clear, concise, and'exa'ct description ofgthe Thisinvention relates particularly to con- I vertible tops for automobiles.

' matic tension means to the inoperative position when releasedfrom'theoperative position. Other objects.

and advantages will appear as thisdescrip- I I i l from the stanchions 4at. the front, tov the Among'the objectsof the invention I II I thedrawings includes the conventional automobile body 1', havingapermanently" are toproduce a convertible top ior automobiles' havingsliding side panels adaptedto be stored in superposed relation n thetion progresses; j I In this specification and the annexed drawings theinvention is illustratedin the form considered tofibe the best, but 1 itis to be understood that the inventi oI r-is not limited to such form,because it may be em- I I I strips 7 This rear portion is built out bybodied in other forms; andit is also .to be enclosed car transparentinserts.

understood that in and by the claims follovv- I ing the description'it'is" desired tofcover the invention in whatsoever formit may be embodied. a T 5 Convertible-tops. such as herein disclosed represent anintermediarytypebetween the having Vertically sliding glazedwindowsashes;--.and the cape top. type having curtains with celluloid-orother flexible In the accompanyingtwo sheets of draw ings, 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of'a convertible top; constructed inaocordancewiththis'in vention, grammatically.illustrated. Fig; 2 is ation. I

Fig. 3 is a attachable and detachable iside attached to "an automobilebody dia-j I .fragnientary' detail in --horizontal section taken on-theline II-+11. Fig.- 1, showingthe sashes in theoperative relas similarview taken on theline 1 j; o 1 i provide the switch tra.clr28.piv otedatl29 I 1 is anenlarged detailinside eleva? ;tion, withportionsofthebody in cross se'e tion, illustratingthe relation of the'rollersupport mechanism for the sashes.

F 5 is a'plan View from above of the F ig.'6 is a similar view of thesame in cross section taken on the line VII- Y1 Fig. 3.

1 Fig. '7 s a fragmentary detail partially in 1 section of-theswitchtrack'tension means; i A v Fig. 8 i's'adetail' plan view of thebottom" sash'stopf j i I In detailthe constructionillustrated in jinstalled top. 2 supported at the back by the the corner stanchion 4:.

I The lateral edges-of thetop 'are provided" with the downwardlydepending strips- 6,

"parallel with the sides 7 to Which'they are attached by'the's p'acingblocksS, forming I downwardly open channels or runways for the sashhangers. This runway extends back support 3. The rear compartment of wenclosing'structure 3 and at the front by the'auto body is enclosed atthe sides with,

permanent glazed sashes I9, having their front rails or stanch ons 11extending up.

from the body and merging into the side intermediate sashes 12' and 13,the end rails 1 ltjand 16 of which meet at a point'inter- Imediate thedoors 17 and 18, about 111 11119. vwith the back of the front seatofth'ebody. These sashesll, 12' and 13 are glazed with glass to give "a clearvision a good quality of therethru. The sashes 11, 12"a'nd 13 are";supported upo-nthe rollers 19,20, 21 and 22 outside of the sash 12 andhangers for the To accomplish-the flush: planerelation the L irespectively. The hangers '23 "of these vari ous rollers extend downwardand are at' tached to their respective sashes, the hangers .for therollers 19 and 20 being fixed to the "rollers 21 and 22 being fixed. tothe inside of the sash 13. These hangers are adapted to pass withintheslot 24: between the sup i 26 andr27 that are fixed toth various sashesas indicated in Fig. 2',f we I on the rail 26L- i-Therear endof thistrack 28 registers in line-with the intermediatetrack 31, fixed ontherail 26 andeigtending backivardto form the; storage track 'alsq fixed onthe rail 26, thus forming a continuous track for the support of the sashV 12', extending from. the inoperative position behind the sash 11 tothe forward position shown in lug. 1. e

i We provide an intermediate switch track opera tive 33 pivoted at 34 onthe rail 27 and extending rearward in a linement, with the storage track36 fixed on therail 27 behin d t-he sash V e prefer channel iron forthese tracks with the rollers; running between the side flanges thereot,as such'ai form of roller is less'liable to derailment than a flanged,roller,

although We do notwish t fhelirnitedt-o the,

exact construction shown; These rollers roa tate upon the pins 37 fixedin thesideplates 38 that; are pivoted at 39 to the hangers 23.

The pivot'inounting 39 permits the rollers to swivel in accommodatingthemselves to any curves or' angles encountered in the ,track, inpassing from one section toanother. 7 e I The 'trackf28 is held innormal alinenient With the track section 31, and the track 33 J's-heldin line with the storage. section 36 by the action of the torsionsprings as surroundingthe pivots 29 and 3e and: expand ing to push aganst thepinsel fixed in the;

tracks 28 and 33 see Fig. 7. This sortof 7 spring is preferred becauseofits compact- ,Qness', but'other means maybe employed for accomplishingthe same function.

Thelianger above the roller 20 provided with the fr1ct1onal Wipe spring13, engaging th'e'fchock a l fixed on the block 8 above t-he, ,slot' 24.

jlVhen thespring 43 engages the 01 61544 it has a resilient cam actiongui d ingthe. end; of the sash l2 V laterally,'overcoming the tension ofthe thesash 13 so that the meeting rail 16 -lines sash9 asshown in Fig.2. "ginay be rabbeted as at 51,-. and

p ishwvith the meeting rail 1 1; of the sash 12. A similar spring 46onthe sash 12 engagesthe' chock 47, alsofixed on the blockB,andfoperates similarly, to force the I sash rail 12 1 rail 13 or" theintermediate sash. This action forces all of t-hesashes 1 2 and 13 intoflush into 'alinement with the sash longitudinal alinement with thestationary The front rail 49 rails 1.4 and 16 and ll may be similarlyformed for excluding. wind and incleinencies of-the wveather. a

The bottom stop50 is rfixed onthe top edge of the autoinobile body itschannel the'tpartit-ion' 50 While the sash 12' form engaging thesashes'12" and 13 at their.-

meetingrails le and 16, to prevent the in ward swinging of these sashesWhilein the operative. position? The sash 13 stopsagainst stops againstthe depressiblespring'button 50" in the bottom ofthe stop 50.

" than the slot tit-24 7 spring 11, and swinging thetrack 33 laterally,bringing the meeting body ofthe car, the tated by the operator The endof thetrack sections. 28' and33 are provided. in the ends. opposite totheir pivot with the antifriction rollers 52 and respectively, rolling11130111119121 plates 54 and 55 fixedon the rail 26. As the rail 28hasto pass the slot 24: in adJuStmg the' front sash l2in thepositionshown in Fig.

2, We build out'the block 56eon the side strip '6 to reduce the Widthot' the slot 24 at that point, since only the thickness of one hanger-s23 has to pass therethruQ This block 56 is notched as at'57 to receivethe hanger The track 28 being Wider it passes. across without of theroller 20.

dropping therein.

F or the purposes of excluding theweather 7 it is desirable that thesashes 12 and 13 rest upon the top edge of the auto body 1; yet it p isundesirable that theyslide thereon, To lift the sashes duringtheirpassage into p o-e sition We how the tracks 28 and-33 upward,

as shown in Fig. 4, the bow apex beingindicated at 13 as the frontrollers 19 and 21 pass" up the incline to the apex the front edge oftheirarespective sashesare elevated sashes are in the full operativeposition. V To automatically "return the sashes '12 and 13 to thestorageposition behind the above the level of thetop rail oftheauto bodyand do notcontact therewith until the,

sash 11', we providethe tension reels Gland position: the tension of thereels 61 and 62 Will pull them backward into the storage position.

To facilitate control ofthe sashes12 V 13 from the drivers seat Weprovide the manual controls comprising the Windlasses '7, and providedwiththe crank handles 68 l 66 and 67 journaled between the strips 6 andand 69 respectively. The ribbon 63 is Wound upon the Windlass 66 and theribbon 64 upon the windlass 67. i v v V V V- By this invention an opencar can be imoperator.

The invention operates substantially'as desired to close thefollowsz'lVh en it is crank handle 68' is rothe intermediatetracksection 31, onto the pivoted track section 28, held inmormal' Iali'nernent by the torsion spring The p spring 16 011 thesaid f chock4E7 forces said-sash into the flushposi tion, shown in Fig. 2} Whereit"re1nain's,be

sash meeting the -inediately converted into al'closed carand reconvertedinto an open' car with the 1nini- Vmum amount of effort on the part ofthe" Which-"slides the front "sash-forward from the storage track 32across 5 ing held by the notch 557- engagingthe hanger of the roller20and against lateral displacement by the stop 505', The crank vhandleJGQ'is then rotated to-slide the sash 13 forwardfrom the storage track36 onto thepivoted track 33, until thespring engages the chock 44: whichiorces the rear rail of the sash into posit on, in engagement with thefront rail 11 of; the rear sash where is restored by disengaging therail 48 fromthe rail 11, against the tension of the spring 43 until thetrack 33 alines with the track 36, then the tension of the reel 62 willpull the sash 13 into the storage position.

The construction and installation of this invention will vary somewhatfrom that disclosed in meeting variable conditions of the a varioustypesof automobile bodies. Swivelling the hangers as at 39 permits themto ac commodate them-selves to a considerable lat eral bow or curve ofthe sides of the top or the body. It is the general practice how'- everto make the sides or" the top substan tially in strai ht linesfrom thewind shield or stanchion 4 of the front, to the rear door at the sashrail 11. In some'models prac tically a'straight line exists between thestanchion 4 and the back of the rear seat at 3.

Having thus described our invention w iat We claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. A convertible top such as described having arunway therein; a lined sash in said top; a storage track in said runwayparallel with said. sash; a track pivoted substantially in aline'mentwith said sash and adapted to swing into register with said storagetrack; and a sliding sash sup ported on said tracks; and meansfor, nor-*mally holding said pivoted track in register with said storage track;means on said sliding sash and said runway for automatically guidlngsaid sliding sash into 'fiusl alinement with said fixed sash in theoperative position, and means on said top en gaging said sash-at the topand bottom edges for holding said sliding sash in the flush position. I

2. A convertible top such as described having a runway therein; a lixedsash in said top; a plurality ofstora-ge tracks in said runway parallelwith said sash; a

plurality of switch tracks pivoted substan-l tia-lly in alinement withsaid fixed, sash and adapted to register with said storage tracks; aplurality of sliding sashes respectively supported on said tracks; meanson said sliding. sashes and said runway for automatically; guiding saidsliding sashes into flush ,alinement with. said fixed sash in theoperative pos tion and means on saidiitopx engaging said-sash at the topand bottom edgesfor holdingsaid sash 1n the flush posip p i 3.;Aconvertible top such as-d'escribed having .a runway; therein ;1 a fixedsash .in; said toppa plurality, of storage tracks in said runwayparallelwith said sash; a plu,

rality of vertically bowed switch tracks I ing 'a-daptedto elevate thesliding sash when moved forwardly or rearwardly; a plurality of slidingsashes respectively supported on said tracks; means on said slidingsashes and sa d runway for automaticall r guiding ted substantiallyinalinemen't.with said-- fixed. sash and adapted to register wlth said;storage tracks said bowed switch tracks besaid sliding sashes into flushalinement with said fired sash in the operative position and means onsaid topengaging said sash at the top and bottom edges for holdingsaidsash n the flush position. i

l. A convertible top such as described having a runway therein; a fixedsash in said too a ,luralit of stora e tracks in l 7 i a said runwayparallel with said'sash; a, plu-' rality of vertically bowed switchtracks pivoted substantially in'alinement withsaid fixed sash andadapted to register with said storage tracks, said bowed switch tracksbeing adapted to elevate the sliding sash when 7 moved forwardly orrcarwardly; vertically pivoted hangers engaging said tracks; a pluralityof sliding sashes supported on said hangers, meansion said slidingsashes and said runway for automatically guiding said sliding sashesinto flush alinement with said fixed sash, in the operative positionand, meanson said top ehgagingsaul sash at the top and bottom edges forholding: said sash in the hush position;

5. A convertible top having a runway therein; a fixed sash in said top;a pluless rality of storage tracks in said runway parallel with saidsash; a plurality of vertically bowed sw tch tracks pivotedsubstantially in alignment withsaidfixed sash and adaptedto registerwith said storage tracks,

said bowed switch tracks being adapted to elevate the sliding sash when}moved forwardly or rearwardly;- vertically pivoted hangersenga-ging saidtracks; a plurality of sliding sashes supported on said hangers, l

whereby said sashes may be moved from said stora 'e tracks onto saidswitch tracks' cam means on said sash hanger within said runway toautomatically move: said switch' tracks and sliding sashes into flushalignment with saidnxed sash and "means or;

said top engaging saidsash at the top and, bottom edges for holding saidsash in the flush position;

A convertible top having a runway V therein; a fixed sash in said top; aplural-ity of storage tracks in sa1d runway parallel with said sash; aplurality of'vertioally bowed switch tracks pivoted substantially inalignment with said fixedsash and [adapted to register with saidstoragetraeks,

said bowedswitch tracks being adapted to elevate the sliding sash whenmoved for-' wardly. or rearwardly'; vertically pivoted hangers engagingsaid tracks; a plurality ofsliding sashes supported on sa1d hangers,whereby said sashes may be moved from said storage tracks onto saidswitch tracks;

earn means on said sash hangers Within said i V runway to automatically'move said switch flush alignment with said fixed sash and means on saidtop engaging sash in the flush 'position In testimony whereof, we setour hands at San Francisco, California',

this 20th day of November, 1919.

said sash at the top and bottom edges for holding said,

have hereunto oiinsrna GILLIG; Q

LEO GrILLIGr.v

Vitnesses BALDWIN VALE,

